About the Programme
IIM Bodh Gaya, nestled in the land of enlightenment, fosters a vibrant community of over 1,600 learners, more than 100 faculty members, and industry practitioners. In its journey spanning over a decade, the institute has built its identity around five core values, Mindfulness, Leadership, Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Lifelong Learning, which are deeply imbibed in shaping its culture and guiding every academic pursuit.
If you are a dynamic, driven and experienced industry professional aspiring to become a teacher, trainer, or consultant for the country, the Executive PhD program at IIM Bodh Gaya facilitate you to achieve your goal. This Programme is designed to sharpen analytical thinking, deepen research capabilities, and drive practice-oriented insights, all without interrupting your career. Supported by academic rigour, flexible learning, and distinguished faculty mentorship, the programme offers a truly transformative research journey. This Program is further enriched with a Foreign Immersion Module that provides global research exposure.
Program Highlights:
- Three On-Campus Immersion Sessions in the first year enabling interactive learning and direct engagement with IIM Bodh Gaya faculty.
- Collaborative Learning Opportunities with senior leaders and top executives from diverse industries, fostering practice-oriented research insights.
- Foreign Immersion offering global research exposure, industry visits abroad, and networking with executive scholars from partner international institutions.
Application Fee: Rs. 1000/- for UR and Rs. 500/- for female, SC, ST and PwD
IIMBG RAT Fee: Rs. 1200/-
Date of start of Application: 13th December 2025
Last Date of Application: 31st March 2026
Academic structure
First Year (Mandatory Course work)During the first year of the Executive PhD Programme, scholars are required to complete the coursework, comprising of introductory courses in management and PhD level courses which includes area specific and research methodology related courses. The introductory management courses will be conducted along with the Executive MBA (E-MBA) programme, providing scholars with exposure to core management concepts and postgraduate-level academic rigor.
Further Years
Upon successful completion of the mandatory coursework in the first year, the scholar is required to appear for a Comprehensive Examination and Viva-voice, which assesses preparedness for independent doctoral research.
After successfully clearing the Comprehensive Examination and Viva-voice, the scholar shall constitute a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) in consultation with faculty members from area of specialization.
Following the formation of the TAC, the scholar is required to present and defend the thesis proposal.
As part of the programme requirements, scholars will also participate in a Foreign Immersion Module which is mandatory, designed to provide exposure to international academic environments, research practices, and global scholarly engagement.
The last steps of the programme are Thesis Submission and Defense.
The Executive Ph.D. Program in Management is a part-time, non-residential programme. Scholars are ordinarily expected to complete the programme within four years. An extension of up to two additional years may be granted, subject to the condition that the total duration of the programme does not exceed six years.
Admission
Eligibility Criteria
*This document outlines the admission process of IIM Bodh Gaya for its Ph.D. for Working Professionals Programme for the Academic Year (AY) 2026 intake. IIM Bodh Gaya reserves the right to revise or update any part of this policy, including eligibility criteria, evaluation standards, and cut-offs, at any stage until the completion of the admission cycle.
Minimum eligibility criteria for applying to Executive Ph.D. in Management for the Academic Year: 2026- 27 are as mentioned below:
Education Qualifications:
Applicants must hold one of the following degrees/qualifications:- A master’s degree, with at least 60% marks.
- A professional qualification such as CA, ICWA/CMA, or CS with at least 60% marks.
- A four-year/eight-semester bachelor’s degree in engineering/architecture with at least 6.5 CGPA (65%) or equivalent.
- The percentage will be calculated as per the rules of the respective University/Institution. For CGPA, conversion to percentage must follow the institution’s certified procedure. In the absence of such a procedure, equivalence will be established as (CGPA/Maximum CGPA) × 100.
- A 5% relaxation is available for candidates from SC, ST, and PwD categories.
- The upper age limit is 55 years.
- Candidates must have at least 5 years of full-time, post-qualification work experience in Government, PSUs, research organizations (DSIR approved), autonomous bodies, educational institutions, or the private sector.
- The upper age limit is relaxed for 5 years for SC/ST/PWD and 3 years for NC-OBC.
- Candidates with valid CAT/GRE/GMAT/GATE/UGC-NET scores (within the last three years from the final date of application submission) may apply.
- International applicants (NRIs/foreign nationals) may submit GRE/GMAT scores.
- Those without such scores must appear for the IIM Bodh Gaya Research Admission Test (IIMBG-RAT).
| Category | CAT (Sec/Overall) | GRE/GMAT (Sec/Overall) | GATE | JRF |
| General | 70 / 80 | 70 / 80 | Qualified | Qualified |
| NC-OBC | 65 / 75 | 65 / 75 | Qualified | Qualified |
| EWS | 65 / 75 | 65 / 75 | Qualified | Qualified |
| SC | 55 / 65 | 55 / 65 | Qualified | Qualified |
| ST | 55 / 65 | 55 / 65 | Qualified | Qualified |
| PwD | 55 / 65 | 55 / 65 | Qualified | Qualified |
IIM BG RAT Exam Pattern
| Parameter | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Exam Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Total Number of Questions | 100 |
| Exam Date | The entrance examination date for Executive PhD will be updated soon. |
| Duration of Exam | 120 minutes |
| Number of Sections | • Quantitative Aptitude• Logical Reasoning • English Comprehension • Research and Teaching Aptitude (Sample questions will be uploaded on the IIM Bodh Gaya Website) |
Selection Process
- Candidates submit duly filled Application Form along with copies of documents in support of the attainments mentioned in Eligibility Criteria.
- Candidate needs to mention the area of specialization from the below mentioned academic areas.
- Marketing
- Economics
- Finance and Accounting
- Information Technology Systems and Analytics
- Operations Management and Quantitative Techniques
- Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
- Business Communication
- Strategy and Entrepreneurship
- Humanities & Liberal Arts
- A candidate can fill only one application in which the candidate may apply in two academic areas.
- Applications are shortlisted by separate area level screening committees.
- Shortlisted candidates are called for personal interview IIM Bodh Gaya Campus
- Final selection is based on personal interview and academic and professional profile.
Admission Schedule
| Activity | Date |
| Announcement of the Program | 13 December, 2025 |
| Last date of submission of completed application | 31 March 2026* |
| IIM BG RAT Exam | The exam date for IIM BG RAT will be updated soon |
| Announcement of Shortlisted Candidates# | Will be updated soon |
| Personal Interviews# | Will be updated soon |
| Announcement of Selected Candidates# | Will be updated soon |
| Last Date of Acceptance and Submission of Acceptance Fee# | Will be updated soon |
| Induction and commencement of Program | May 2026* |
Application Fee Payment
You will be required to make a Payment of INR 1000/- (INR 500 for SC/ST/PWD/Female candidates) towards Application Fees (Non-refundable) to complete the application process. Note that you will not be able to make any changes to the Application once it is submitted. You may like to "Preview" the application very carefully once it is completed before submitting it. The System will allow you to "Preview" the application multiple times before you "Submit" it.
Candidates who opt for the IIM Bodh Gaya RAT Exam are required to pay an examination fee of ₹1,200.
Apply Online
Click here to Apply Online
Candidates are requested to submit the online application by using any computer/ laptop device not in any Mobile devices.
Download Brochure
Click here to View Executive Ph.D. Program in ManagementInformation Webinar
2 Information are scheduled to happen in January and February| Webinar | Date |
| January | To be announced soon |
| February | To be announced soon |
Fees
The total programme fee for the students who fulfil all the requirements of the programme in time, the total programme fee works out to be INR 7,00,000.
Payment Schedule
The fee schedule for Executive Ph.D. in Management
| Year | Amount | Detail | Last Date of Payment* |
| Commitment fee # | INR 50,000 | (At the time of accepting admission offer) | April, 2026 |
| Year 1 | INR 2,00,000 | Program Fee 1st Installment | April, 2026 |
| Year 2 ** | INR 2,00,000 | Program Fee 2nd Installment | April, 2027 |
| Year 3 | INR 2,00,000 | Program Fee 3rd Installment | April, 2028 |
| Year 4 | INR 1,00,000 | Program Fee 4th Installment | April, 2029 |
*Exact dates will be announced later.
**Year 2: Foreign Immersion fee which is mandatory would be charged as per actuals.
# Applicants accepting admission offers must pay a commitment fee of INR 50000, which will later be adjusted against the refundable caution deposit and Alumni fee.
Note:
At the time of giving an offer of admission to an applicant, a last date of withdrawal will also be announced. Any withdrawal from the program by that date will attract INR 1,000/- as a processing fee and the remaining amount will be refunded. If the withdrawal request comes after the date of withdrawal, no money will be refunded. After joining the program, all paid fee instalment amounts are non-refundable.
FAQs
Ans: The Executive PhD is designed for working professionals who desire to continue their career while obtaining a doctorate equivalent degree. The program is ideal for those candidates who seek to deepen their overall business knowledge and understanding of high-level research skills in order to address the complex challenges facing them in today's business environment. One can also pursue the executive PhD as a means of transitioning into a career in academia or to enhance their experience for a career in research and consulting.
Ans: An Executive PhD enhances your credibility for roles that require thought leadership—such as senior strategy, policy, consulting, analytics, or academic-adjacent positions. Beyond career outcomes, this program helps you develop the ability to identify high-impact problems, build theory-driven arguments, and apply rigorous research methods to generate evidence.
Ans: Yes. Over the four-year programme, certain components require on-campus presence. During the coursework phase, participants will attend three campus immersion rounds—two compulsory and one optional. In addition, the comprehensive examination, proposal defence, and both internal and external thesis defences will be conducted on campus.
Ans: Yes, attendance is mandatory. Students are required to maintain a minimum attendance of 70%. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a grade reduction.
Ans: The participants are considered bonafide students of IIM Bodh Gaya and will enjoy similar privileges, including alumni status.
Ans: The program is highly rigorous, demanding a significant level of academic commitment and integrity. Specific requirements must be met at each stage of the program.
Ans: The Program is designed to be completed within four years. Special provisions can be made to extend the Program by one more year.
Ans: Admission to the Executive PhD Programme is based on criteria including a minimum of five years of professional experience, a strong academic background (see Eligibility Criteria), and the applicant’s demonstrated aptitude and motivation for conducting practitioner-relevant research. A genuine commitment to learning is essential.
Ans: We are looking for highly motivated and disciplined candidates with strong academic preparation who exhibit curiosity, desire to learn, and have an inclination towards research. More importantly, candidates should be self-driven enough to work on their research problem regularly despite the demands of their regular job and other personal and family obligation.
Ans: The purpose of the personal interview is to gauge the academic preparedness and the drive of the candidate for the programme. It also gives the candidate an opportunity to find out if the programme meets the expectations of the student. You are encouraged to bring a proposal of your research interest during interview.
- Ans:
- Duly filled-in application form along with Non-refundable application form fee.
- A copy of the candidate's GMAT/GMAT Focus Edition/CAT/GATE/GRE/JRF score card, the score must be valid till last date of application. (if you are applying through IIMBG RAT, you need not to submit any score card).
- A recent, recognizable photograph should be uploaded by the candidate in the online application form.
- Combined scanned PDF of High School Marks Sheet and Certificate.
- Combined scanned PDF of Intermediate Marks Sheet and Certificate.
- Combined scanned PDF of all Graduation Marks Sheets and Degree.
- Combined scanned PDF of all Post Graduation Marks Sheets and Degree.
- Combined scanned PDF of all Experience, reliving letter and First and last salary slips.
- Scanned PDF of VALID Cast Certificate for SC, ST, OBC. (If applicable)
Ans: We encourage sponsored candidates. Though, we do not have any reserved seats for such candidates.
Ans: Yes. The programme accepts international students. The eligibility requirements and course structure are the same as for domestic students.
Ans: You must apply for a specific area. You can apply for two different areas, in that case, you need not to pay the additional fee. Areas to which you apply, will decide on your suitability for admission separately.
Ans: No fixed batch sizes. Would depend on suitable candidates.
| Executive Ph.D. Office | |
|
Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya Uruvela, Prabandh Vihar Bodh Gaya – 824234, Gaya, Bihar, India |
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| +91-9519970830 | |
| ephd.support@iimbg.ac.in |
